Preparing Our Souls to Hear from God - The Crosswalk Devotional - April 28
Preparing Our Souls to Hear from God
By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
We’ve probably all had times when we felt stuck in indecision, waiting for God’s leading. We’ve probably also felt the angst that comes from fretting that we’ve missed His guidance, that we’re unable to hear His voice, or that we’ve misheard Him. I’m currently seeking His direction for a decision that could drastically affect my life for the foreseeable future. I know the stress, anxiety, and futility of living misaligned with Christ and the joy and fruitfulness that comes from anchoring ourselves in Him and yielding however He leads. Frankly, that is the only way to experience the thriving life He promised in John 10:10—a life characterized by love, joy, peace, kindness, and eternal impact.
A life of ever-increasing intimacy with our Lord.
Therefore, if we want to fully receive all the blessings He died to give us, it’s imperative that we live the life He assigned.
But what if we don’t know what that is? What if we’re unsure whether He wants us to pursue additional training to prepare for a promotion that might allow more career autonomy or to step away from a demanding position to free up more time to spend with teenage children? Or maybe we’re working through a complicated, painful, and confusing relationship, not knowing whether to speak hard truths or offer grace, step back and initiate some firm boundaries, or wait.
When I find myself in those situations, today’s passage challenges and encourages me; first, it reminds me that a pure heart “hears” God more clearly than one consumed with pride, selfishness, and fear.
Romans 12:1 invites me to offer my entire self—my time, resources, agenda, emotions—all I am—to the Lord. That is perhaps the hardest act of obedience we will ever choose, especially if our trust feels a bit wonky. Our ability to yield to Christ is directly tied to our trust in Him.
I don’t say this from a place of condemnation. We can’t “will” ourselves to trust Him, nor is our wobbly trust an act of rebellion. Instead, it indicates that we need to better understand Christ, His ways, and His heart. And we never saw Him more clearly than when He hung upon the cross. This is why I find the first part of Romans 12:1 so helpful.
“In view of God’s mercy …” Given all He’s done for me and in me. Given His radical sacrifice, offered in the most extreme display of love known to humanity and all I have received through His death and resurrection, I offer myself back to Him.
Earlier in Romans, before issuing this challenging and freeing invitation, Paul, the first-century church planter who wrote this letter, stated, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, NIV).
That, and the following verses, recorded in one of the most beautiful and profound passages in Scripture, inform and ignite our ability to offer whole-self worship.
Intersecting Life and Faith
When we recognize how much Jesus loves us, the vivid and horrifically painful way He revealed this, and all we have in Him, our ability to rest in Him increases. The fear and anxiety that otherwise lead to self-reliance and survivalist behavior quiet in His loving embrace, allowing us to respond more freely to the gentle nudge of His Spirit within us.
Reflecting upon the cross also helps us turn from the sin that otherwise clouds His voice and hardens our hearts against Him. According to Scripture, whenever we’re operating in pride, we are placing ourselves in direct opposition to God and His will (James 4:6).
But like previously, a pure soul remains receptive to, and easily moved by, the Lord.
This brings me to the most encouraging part of today’s passage. Notice the cause-and-effect relationship revealed. When we offer ourselves to Christ, approaching Him with open and pliable hearts, we will know God’s will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect.
Because again, will not the One who, in love, gave us His precious Son provide us with everything we need to thrive?
Further Reading:
Matthew 5:6-8
Psalm 51:10
Psalm 19:12-14
Psalm 29
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Viktor_Gladkov
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Your Emotions
Are you tired of up-and-down feelings stealing your peace, sabotaging your relationships, and filling your mind with self-defeating thoughts? What if you had a proven emotional management tool to biblically respond to your feelings with compassion and clarity? Join us for today’s episode to discover three simple steps to manage emotions, reduce stress, improve decision-making, and grow closer to God. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
